Irrigating sprinkler



March 28, 1961 A. c. sPANN ETAL 2,977,052

IRRIGATING SPRINKLER Filed Deo. 6, 1957 2 Sheets-Shea?l 1 N. R NN n @N y, m m MW m Sm mm w c. mw o. mm s mm wm mw www .NJQI TF mm l" m wv Nv wm B ww @N m e mM mm Aa wm mm mm wm ATT RNEY N i' lk United IRRIGATING SPRINKLER Albert C. Spann and Elmer F. Spann, Atkinson, Nebr. Filed Dec. 6, 1957, Ser. No. 701,042

1 Claim. (Cl. 239-253) Our invention relates to an irrigating sprinkler. An object of our invention is to provide an irrigating sprinkler which includes eiciently operating joints leading to the extending boom portions of the sprinkler, which 'jects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in our claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the-irrigating sprinkler,

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 1 showing our type of joint connection,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of Figure 3, and l Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional detail taken along the lines 5-5 of Figure 3.

Our invention contemplates the provision of a special type of joint for use in irrgating sprinklers of the type which rotate and are adapted to throw water to a fairly considerable distance, and further contemplates the provision of a flexible joint which will remain sealed at all times and yet will allow the extended pipes to be elevated at different angles to throw the water in a larger path, etc.

We have used the character to designate the lower framework portion of the irrigating sprinkler, the member 10 including the transverse portions 11 upon which are journalled the wheels 12 so that the unit can be transported from place to place, this structure being more or less standard. We have also used the character 13 to indicate vertical supports at the top of which is attached a platform 14.

Attached to the platform 14 are the small brackets 15 which carry the roller 16, which rollers bear against a ring 17, which ring 17 is attached to the vertically positioned pipe 18, the bottom 19 of which is adapted to rotate within the upper portion of the elbow member 20, the pipe 18 being suitably gasketed within the elbow to prevent leakage and yet allow rotation of the pipe as stated, it being noted that the pipe will be supported by the rollers 16. Attached to the elbow 20 at 21 is the inlet pipe 22 which leads to the pumping source and also to the stream or channel from which the irrigating water is to be obtained.

The top of the pipe 18 is plugged or capped at 23, and attached at 24 is a further smaller pipe 25 which extends vertically, and attached to the pipe 25 is a pair of pulleys 26.

The pipe 18 is securely attached at 27 (see Figure 3) to Patent O a plate 28, which plate is secured to and rests upon the lateral straps 29, which straps 29 are secured at 30 to the longitudinal further straps 31. Journalled in the straps 31 are the rods 32 which are threaded at 33 at their outer ends, and engaging the threaded ends 33 are the nuts 34. The rods 32 terminate at 35 and are received within the transverse pipes 36, the inner ends of the rods 32 abutting against a pair of plates 37, which plates abut at 38 and include arcuate portions at 39 to receive the coupling 40, and which coupling passes through the pipe 36. The pipe 36 includes suitable slots to receive the plates 37. Threadably secured within these couplings 40 are the short pipes 41 and the lengthened boom pipes 42, the pipes 42 being the pipes which extend outwardly from the frames and at the terminals of which the water is ejected for the spraying or sprinkling purposes. The pipes 42 terminate in the angularly positioned jet portions 42a which cause the unit to rotate. Attached at 43 to the plates 37 are the posts 44 to which are attached at 45 the rods 46 which are secured at 47 to the ends of the pipes 36, this arrangement thereby providing a rm and substantial bracing elfect to this part of the structure.

Communicating with the pipe 18 beneath the plate 28 are the further pipes 48. The pipes 41 and 48 are snugly received within the central openings 49 of the fairly soft'rubber gaskets 50, which gaskets include the annular V-shaped portions 51, and the gaskets 50 are firmly secured at 52 within the reduced diameter ends 53 of the substantially larger cylinders 54.

Attached to the plate 28 are a pair of Winches 55 which are adapted to wind the cables 56,.which cables 56 pass about the pulleys 26 and which cables are then attached at 57 to the gin-poles 58, there being a pair of gin-poles at either side of the arrangement, the lower ends of the gin-poles 58 being attached to the ends of the pipes 36 (see Figure 3). Also attached at this same junction point are the bracing pipes 59 which are secured at 60 to the vertical pipe 25.

Also attached to the ends of the pipes 36 are the bracing pipes 61 which are attached at 62 (see Figures l and 2) to the extending pipes 42.

Also attached at 57 to the gin-poles 58 are the further support pipes 63 which are attached at 64 to the extending pipes 52. Also attached at 57 are the three cables 65 and 65a at either side, which in turn are attached at 66 and 66a to the spray pipes 42, it being noted in Figures l and 2 that the pipes 42 are shown broken away in portions, since in actual construction the pipes 42 are considerably longer in proportion than shown on the drawing.

The water forced under pressure through the jets 42a will cause the pipe 18 to rotate in the usual manner, the pipe 18 passing freely through the platform 14, and as a result, the entire structure including the plate 28, members 31, 36, pipes 42, members 58, etc., will rotate and eject the water to a considerable distance, the rotation of the unit causing a spraying elect.

For spraying over larger areas it is desired to elevate the outer ends of the pipes 42, or in other words to increase the angle of these pipes relative to the ground, and this is accomplished by operating the reel 55.

One of the important features of our invention is the fact that the pipes 42 can be elevated without leakage, and by virtue of the joints that we have provided in the water system, as well as in the parts of the framework portion, the elimination ofv this leakage is provided as will be explained.

The entire boom structures as well as the gin-poles and the like will pivot at the ends of the bars 32, since these bars are freely journalled within the ends of the straps 31. Any pivoting, therefore, of the pipe 36 by virtue of n the change of angularity of the pipes 42 Will cause the relatively short pipes 4l (see Figure 5) to occupy an angular position as shown, ho-wever, due to the resilient nature of the rubber gasket 50,' there will be no leakage at this point, and the same will also be true with respect to the pipe `48 at the other ends of the cylinders 54, in other words, the gasket snugly engaging the pipe 4i will absorb the greatest angularity, however, even though a slight angularity is provided on the pipe 4S, the other gasket S0 will similarly maintain a tight closure so that as a result of this arrangement the pipes e2 can be elevated without destroying the efficiency of the g'oints,

We have found that in actual operation the sealing eiect is very ecient by virtue of this construction.

It will now be seenthat we have provided the advantages mentioned in the objects of our invention with further advantages being readily apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of our invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of our invention, and it is our intention to cover by our claim any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

We claim as our invention:

An irrigating sprinkler comprising a rotatable vertical pipe carrying a Water supply under pressure, a framework secured to said pipe, said frame Work including longitudinally positioned straps, transverse bars jourcluding annular resilient gaskets attached therein, said short pipes snugly engaging the inner opening of said gaskets, means for changing the angularity of said spray pipes including gin-poles attached to said transverse bars, cables attached to the upper ends of said gin-poles and to said spray pipes, a plate attached to said vertical pipe, Winches attached to said plate, further cables Wound on said Winches and attached to the top of said gin-poles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,299,380 Plumer Apr. l, 1919 2,638,362 Sherman et al May l2, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,485 Great Britain Jan. 22, 1908 425,774 Germany Feb. 24, 1926 

